Package construction means with easy open means therefor



May 6, 1969 PACKAGE Filed Feb. 10. 1967 Sheet May 6, 1969 T. E. KIRBY, JR

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION MEANS WITH EASY OPEN MEANS THEREFOR Sheet 2 of4 Filed Feb. 10, 1967 i I I 4 I n BY Z4M"' ms ATTORNEYS T. E. KIRBY, JR

May 6, 1969 HIS ATTORNEYS Sheet PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION MEANS WITH EASY OPEN MEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 10 1967 y 1969 T. E. KlRBY, JR 3,442,436

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION MEANS WITH EASY OPEN MEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 10, 1967 Sheet 4 of 4 INVENTOR. THOMAS E. KIRBY,JR.

HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,442,436 PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION MEANS WITH EASY OPEN MEANS THEREFOR Thomas E. Kirby, Jr., Richmond, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 615,116 Int. Cl. B65d 17/00, /54, 5/70 US. Cl. 22951 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a package construction means wherein one or more articles are substantially encased in a heat shrunk film-like member wherein the heat shrunk film-like member protects and holds the article or articles in a predetermined arrangement until the ultimate consumer or the like desires to open the package construction by removing the film-like member with an easy open means formed in the film-like member, the easy open means including a pair of tab means carved in the film-like member and each having a free end and another end interconnected to the film-like material adjacent the other end of the other tab means so that when the free ends of the tab means are pulled relative to the package construction, the tab means cause the film-like member to tear along three tear paths with the middle tear path being defined between the two tab means and the pair of outboard tear paths being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said middle tear path'and progressively diverging therefrom.

This invention relates to an improved package construction having easy open means for opening an outer film-like member of the package construction as well as to an improved method for making such a package construction or the like.

In addition, this invention relates to an improved filmlike packaging material having such easy open means and to a method for making such easy open means.

It is well known that an economical and attractive package construction can be provided by telescopically disposing a plurality of articles in a predetermined arrangement within a heat shrinkable tubular film-like member so that when the film-like member is subsequently heat shrunk, the heat shrunk film-like tubular member tightly compacts such articles together to provide a package construction suitable for shipping, storing and merchandising the articles while still being attractive in design and relatively lightweight and inexpensive in comparison with conventional rectangular cardboard cartons or the like.

However, it has been found according to the teachings of this invention, that when such prior known package constructions were being opened in merchandising stores and the like in order to not only place the articles on merchandising shelves or to permit customer removal thereof, the store clerks and the like were utilizing relatively sharp knives to slit open the tubular film-like member to provide access to the packaged articles. Thus, unless great care was taken by such store clerks and the like, relatively fragile and cutable articles, such as cereal boxes and the like, were being severed during such knife opening operations.

Therefore, it is a feature of this invention to provide an easy open means for such a package construction wherein the film-like material can be readily removed without requiring the store clerks and the like to use adverse auxiliary opening devices.

In particular, the easy open means of this invention is provided by carving a pair of tab means in the film-like member with such tab means being so constructed and arranged that when such tab means are pulled relative to the package construction, the pulled tab means cause the film-like material to tear along three tear paths with a middle tear path being defined between the pulled tab means and the outboard tear paths being respectively disposed on opposite sides of the middle tear path and progressively diverging away therefrom to substantially fully open the film-like material.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved package construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making such a package construction or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved film-like packaging material having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making such a packaging material or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of an improved package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the initial step in the opening of the package construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates a further step in the opening of the package construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 4-8 are respectively perspective views illustrating the various steps in the method of this invention for forming the tubular film-like member around a plurality of articles to produce a package construction similar to FIGURE 1 without the easy open means of this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view similar to FIGURE 8 and illustrates a die means for forming the pull tab means of this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary, perspective view similar to FIGURE 9 and illustrates the tab means carved by the die means of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 and illustrates another apparatus for securing a tape-like means over the cut tab means of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the completed package construction of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the completed easy open means of the package construction of FIGURE 1 as produced by the method steps illustrated sequentially in FIGURES 4-11.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 and illustrates another embodiment of the easy open means of this invention.

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 and illustrates still another embodiment of the easy open means of this invention.

FIGURE 15 is a top perspective view of another type of package construction utilizing the easy open means of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 16 is a view similar to FIGURE 15 and illustrates the package construction of FIGURE 15 in its opened condition.

FIGURE 17 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 18 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 and illus- 3 trates the package construction of FIGURE 17 in its completed form.

FIGURE 19 is a view similar to FIGURE 18 and illustrates a step in the initial opening of the package construction of FIGURE 18.

FIGURE is a view similar to FIGURE 19 and illustrates the package construction of FIGURE 19 in a more opened condition.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing easy open means in package constructions for relatively fragile or rupturable articles, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide easy open means for package constructions for other types of articles as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate some of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a plurality of articles 21, such as product containing rectangular cardboard cartons or the like, disposed in predetermined arrangements in the open ends 22 of substantially rectangular cardboard tray-like supporting means 23 with the article filled tray means 23 being disposed in stacked relation and tele scoped within a heat shrunk tubular film-like member 24 that tightly compacts the articles 21 and supporting tray means 23 together in such a manner that the package construction 20 can withstand the normal abuse encountered during subsequent shipping, storing and merchandising thereof.

Should the tray means 23 of the package construction 20 be subsequently utilized for merchandising the articles 21 directly to the ultimate consumer, the merchandising store or the like can have its stock clerks or the like remove the film-like members 24 from the package constructions 20 whereby each article filled tray means 23 can be either placed in stacked relation or individually on display shelves or the like so that the ultimate consumer can remove the desired number of articles 21 therefrom, as desired. Of course, the stock clerks or the like can also remove such articles 21 front the tray means 23 and place the same in a desired display for merchandising purposes or the like.

However, as previously stated, a stock clerk normally opens such package construction 20 by running a knife or other sharp cutting edge through the film-like material 24 from one opposed open end 25 thereof to the other opposed open end 38 thereof adjacent the top edge means 22 or bottom edge means 26 of the upper tray means 23 with the usual result that such cutting instrument also cuts or slices into the adjacent outer walls of the articles 21 to thereby render such cut articles 21 non-saleable.

Therefore, this invention provides easy open means for removing the film-like material 24 without requiring such adverse cutting devices or other openers while still permitting the sales clerks or the like to open the package constructions 20 in a relatively simple effective, and nontime consuming manner without adversely affecting the packaged articles 21.

In particular, the easy open means of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 27 in FIG- URES 1 and 12 and comprises a pair of pull tab means 28 carved in the film-like material 24 in a manner hereinafter described with each tab means 28 being substantially triangular, the apex of each triangular pull tab means 28 defining a free end 29 and the base thereof being integrally interconnected to the film-like material 24 adjacent the base of the other pull tab means 28'. Thus, it can be seen that the pull tab means 28 illustrated in FIGURE 12 are defined by a cut line means 30 having a substantially W- shaped configuration with the cut line means 30 joining the two tab means 28 at their adjacent triangular base portions.

The easy open means 27 illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 12 also includes a tape-like member 31, such as a pressure sensitive tape-like means secured to the film-like member 24 by the adhesive side thereof to completely cover and close the out line means 30 that defines the pull tab means 28.

In this manner, the tape-like member 31 not only holds the pull tab means 28 in substantially the same plane as the film-like member 24 to prevent the same from being accidentally pulled relative to the package construction 20 until desired, but also the tape-like member 31 provides extension means for pulling the tab means 28 relative to the package construction 20 for the opening of the filmlike member 24 when desired.

In particular, the tape-like member 31 is dividable into two parts 32 along a perforated or other separation-line means 33 extending transversely across the middle of the member 31 and aligned with the juncture of the base portions of the triangular pull tab means 28 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 12 whereby each part 32 is, in effect, secured to its respective pull tab means 28.

When it is desired to open the package construction 20 of this invention, a person merely grasps the tape-like member 31 at the outer edge means 34 thereof and peels the same upwardly so that each part 32 can be readily grasped between a thumb and forefinger of his respective hands and be pulled upwardly and from left to right as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 whereby the cooperation of the particular configuration of the out line means 30 and the natural pivoting of the openers hands relative to his shoulders during such movement causes the parts 32 of the tape-like member 31 to separate at the line 33 and carry the pull tab means 28 therewith to tear across the top of the film-like member 24 along three tear paths 35, 36 and 37 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The middle tear path 35 extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of the package construction 20 and is defined between the adjacent tab means 28 while the ouboard tear paths 36 and 37 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal or middle tear path 35 while progressively diverging away therefrom so that by the time the pulled tab means 28 have torn through the film-like member 24 at the opposite end 38 of the package construction 20, substantially the entire top of the film-like member 24 has been torn open and can be torn down to the non-shown open end 38 thereof that is similar to the open end 25 of the film-like material 24 illustrated in FIGURE 1. If desired, the remaining triangular portion 39 of the film-like member 24 illustrated in FIGURE 3 can then be grasped to tear the film-like material 24 down to the open end 25 illustrated in FIGURE 3 to completely sever the film-like material 24 between the opposed open ends 25 and 38 thereof. Thereafter, the remaining portions of the film-like member 24 can be readily unwrapped from the article filled tray means 23 to utilize the articles 21 and/or tray means 23 in any desired manner.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the easy open means of this invention simply and effectively permits opening of the package construction 20 of this invention without requiring cutting devices or the like so that the articles 21 will not be subjected to adverse cutting or abuse thereof during the opening of the package construction 20 of this invention.

It is to be understood that while the easy open means 27 of this invention has been illustrated and described as being in the top of the film-like material 24 adjacent the center line of the top of the package construction 20 and at one end edge thereof, such easy open means can be placed anywhere in the film-like material 24 to function in the manner previously described, such location of the easy open means 27 in the drawings merely being a typical arrangement therefor and can be produced in the following manner.

As previously stated, the articles 21 are disposed in the open ends 22 of the rectangular tray means 23 with the article filled tray means 23 being adapted to be disposed in stacked relation as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Thereafter, a sheet of film-like material 24, such as a sheet of heat shrinkable polyvinylchloride of the desired thickness and heat shrinking characteristics, is wrapped around the stacked and filled tray means 23 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 so that one side edge 40 of the sheet 24 will overlap the other side edge 41 thereof across the bottom wall 42 of the lower tray means 23 to be heat sealed together by a heated member 43 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 whereby the resulting heat sealed sheet 24 defines a tubular member having the opposed open ends 25 and 38 thereof extending beyond the opposed ends 44 and 45 of the article filled and stacked tray means 23 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6.

Of course, the tubular film-like member 24 could be an integral structure formed by extrusion or the like so that the previously described heat sealed longitudinal seam 46 will not be provided and the articles 21 can be telescoped therein with or without the tray means 23, as desired.

However, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the resulting tubular film-like member 24 has the article filled tray means 23 telescopically disposed therein and the combination illustrated in FIGURE 6 can be subsequently passed through a heating tunnel or the like to heat shrink the film-like member 24 to produce the compact arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 8.

However, it may be desired to initially and partially heat shrink just the extending ends 25 and 38 of the tubular film-like member 24 before the entire assembly is passed through such heating tunnel or the like to insure that the opposed open ends 25 and 38 will fully overlap and compact against the opposed ends 44 and 45 of the article filled tray means 23 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 and not pull back over the tops and bottoms thereof, such initial and partial heat shrunk condition illustrated in FIGURE 7.

When the tubular film-like member 24 is finally heat shrunk into the final configuration illustrated in FIGURE 8, it can be seen that the same tightly compacts and holds the articles 21 and tray means 23 together to form a substantially self-contained unit for the subsequent shipping, storing and merchandising thereof in the manner previously described.

After the package construction of FIGURE 8 has been formed in the manner previously described, the easy open means 27 of this invention can be readily formed therein in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 9-12.

In particular, a suitable die means 47 can be brought against the top surface of the package construction of FIGURE 8 with the die means 47 being so constructed and arranged that the same will carve the previously described tab means 28 in the film-like material 24 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 10. For example, the die means 47 can actually out the film-like material 24 when pressed thereagainst to form the out line 30 or can burn the cut line 30 therein by heat or the like, such cutting or burning operation not adversely affecting the articles 21 disposed beneath such resulting out line 30.

Thereafter, a tape applying device 48 can be brought against the package construction of FIGURE over the cut line 30 thereof to apply the tape means 31 to complete the easy open means 27 as illustrated in FIGURE 12.

Therefore, it can be seen that the package construction can have the easy open means 27 formed therein in a relatively simple and effective manner after the filmlike material 24 has been heat shrunk into its final configuration.

However, it is to be understood that such easy open means 27 can be formed in the film-like material 24 while the same is still in the sheet form as illustrated in FIGURE 4 as desired, the subsequent heat shrinking of the film-like material 24 after the easy open means 27 has been provided therein not adversely effecting the easy open means 27.

While the tape-like member 31 of the easy open means 27 previously described is dividable into the two parts 32 along the perforated separation-line means 33- thereof during the opening of the package construction 20, it is to be understood that the tape-like means of this invention could be initially formed of two parts while functioning in substantially the same manner as previously described.

For example, reference is now made to FIGURE 13 wherein another package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20A and parts thereof similar to the package construction 20 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIGURE 13, the pull tab means 28A of the easy open means 27A have been formed in the filmlike material 24A in the manner and configuration previously described by the cut line means 30A. However, a pair of separate pressure sensitive tape-like members 32A are respectively secured to the film-like material 24A by the adhesive sides thereof at the pull tab means 38A while the tape-like parts 32A are disposed spaced from each other and substantially close the out line means 30A.

In this manner, the tape-like parts 32A not only hold the pull tab means 28A in the same plane as the film-like member 24A to prevent accidental pulling of the pull tab means 28A during shipping and storing of the package construction 20A, but also the tap-like parts 32A permit the opening of the package construction 20A in the manner previously described by the store clerk or the like grasping the parts 32A in his fingers to pull the tab means 28A relative to the package construction 20A in the manner previously described without requiring a separation of the tapelike means 31 previously described.

Also, it is to be understood that while the cut line means 30 or 30A is formed in substantially the shape of an enlarged W, the pull ta-b means can be defined by a cut line means defining other types of configurations while still performing the easy open function of this invention.

For example, another package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20B in FIGURE 14 and parts of the package construction 203 that are identical to the package construction 20 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter B.

As illustrated in FIGURE 14, the package construction 20B includes the heat shrunk tubular film-like member 24B with the easy open means 27B being defined by a cut line means 49 defining the two pull tab means 28B each having a substantially right angled triangular configuration with theiradjacent sides being defined by a single cut line 50 and their respective hypotenues being defined by cut lines 51 and 52.

In this manner, the apexes or free ends 293 of each pull tab means 28B is disposed adjacent each other at the junctures of the cut lines 51 an 52 with the common cut line 50 and the other ends or bases of the pull tab means 28B are integral with the film-like member 243 for the purpose previously described whereby the cut line 50 will define the middle tear path through the film-like material 2-4B and the cut lines 51 and 52 will define the outboard and diverging tear paths in a manner similar to the tear paths 36 and 37 previously described.

A single tape-like member or means 31B identical to the tape-like means 31 previously described can be secured over the pull tab means 28B to function in the same manner as the tape-like means 31 previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the configuration of the pull tab means 28 of the easy open means 27 of this invention can vary and that the form of the tape-like means 31 can also vary as desired while the resulting easy open means will still function in the manner previously described.

While the easy open means of this invention has been previously described in connection with a package construction for a plurality of articles 21 or the like, it is to be understood that the easy open means 27 of this invention can be utilized in other types of package constructions or the like.

For example, another type of package construction utilizing the features of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 53 in FIGURES 15 and 16 and comprises a substantially rectangular pouch construction formed of film-like material 54 being sealed closed at its outer peripheral edge to fully protect a fragile or delicate article 55 therein, the article 55 illustrated in FIGURES 15 and 16 comprising a phonograph record or the like.

One side of the pouch-like package construction 53 has the easy open means 27 of this invention provided therein in the same manner as the easy open means 27 of the package construction 20 of FIGURE 1 so that such easy open means 27 can readily open its respective side of the filmlike material 54 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 16 by the simple pulling operation previously described in connection with the embodiment of FIGURE 3.

Therefore, it can be seen that the easy open means 27 of this invention need not be formed in a heat shrunk filmlike member nor is limited to a particular package construction.

While the various embodiments of the easy open means of this invention has heretofore been illustrated and described with each pull tab means having a substantially triangular configuration with the free end thereof being the single cut apex of that triangular configuration, it is to be understood that each pull tab means can have other types of configurations while still permitting the particular package construction to be easily torn open by the aforementioned three tear paths.

For example, another embodiment of a package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20C in FIGURES 17-20 and parts thereof similar to the package construction 20 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter C.

As illustrated in FIGURE 17, a plurality of articles 21C are packaged in the aforementioned manner in the heat shrunk tubular film-like member 24C.

However, the film-like member 24C is provided with cut-line means 30C therethrough in any manner previously described or the like wherein the out line means 30C defines a plurality of substantially fine interconnected saw teeth-like tabs 56 each having a substantially triangular configuration with an apex or free end 57 and a base integral with the film-like member 24C.

A tape-like member 310 is subsequently disposed over the cut line means 30C in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 18 with the tape-like member 31C having a tear line 33C formed medially across the same and being provided with unattached end flaps 59 at the left hand end thereof as illustrated in FIGURE 18.

Because the cut line means 30C defines a plurality of triangular tabs 56, no particular registration problem exists in exactly placing the tape-like member 31C on the filmlike member 24C because a substantially random placement thereof will still cause the tear line 33C to divide the cut line 30C into two parts 60 and 61 even though the two parts 60 and 61 are not equal in width. However, the two parts 60 and 61 function in the same manner as the two pull tabe means 28 of FIGURE 12 because when the ultimate consumer or the like desires to open the package construction 20C, that person can grasp the unsecured end flaps 59 of the tape-like member 31C in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 19 and pull upwardly and outwardly relative to the package construction 20C in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 19 and 20 whereby the film-like member 24C will tear along a substantially longitudinal middle tear path 62 defined by the location of the separation line 33C of the tape-like member 31C while the two outboard tear paths 63 and 64 will extend from the respective opposed ends 65 and 66 of the cut line 30C and will diverge away from each other in the manner previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that while the term a pair of tab means has heretofore been utilized throughout this disclosure and the appended claims, such terms are fully readable on the embodiment of FIGURES 17-20 as the parts 60 and 61 are a pair of tab means being determined by the particular location of the tear line 33C of the tape-like member 31C during assembly thereof with the package construction 20C.

Accordingly, the easy open means of FIGURES 17-20 eliminates an orientation problem between the cut line means 300 and the tape-like means 31C should such an orientation problem exist in regards to the other embodiments of this invention.

Thus, this invention not only provides an improved package construction and method of making the same, but also this invention provides an improved packaging material and method of making the same or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a package construction having film-like material covering part of said package construction, the improvement comprising a pair of tab means provided in said film-like material and each having a free end means and another end means interconnected to said film-like material adjacent said other end means of the other tab means, said tab means being so constructed and arranged that said free end means thereof can be pulled relative to said package construction to tear said film-like material along three lines for opening said film-like material.

2. In a package construction as set forth in claim 1, tape-like means interconnected to said free end means of said tab means to be grasped and pulled relative to said package construction for pulling said tab means to tear open said film-like material.

3. In a package construction as set forth in claim 2, said tab means having said free end means thereof carved from said film-like material and being separated therefrom by separation-line means passing through said filmlike material, said tape-like means initially closing at least part of said separation-line means.

4. In a package construction as set forth in claim 3, said tape-like means comprising a single member having separation-line means to divide said member into two parts respectively secured to said tab means when said member is moved relative to said package construction to open said film-like material.

5. In a package construction as set forth in claim 3, said tape-like means comprising two members respectively secured to said tab means and being spaced from each other.

6. In a package construction as set forth in claim 1 said tab means respectively having said free end means thereof carved from said film-like material and being separated therefrom by separation-line means, said separation-line means defining the three paths that said filmlike material will tear along when said tab means are pulled relative to said package construction.

7. In a package construction as set forth in claim 6, said separation-line means defining a middle tear path and a pair of outboard tear paths respectively disposed on opposite sides of said middle tear path and progressively diverging therefrom.

8. In a package construction as set forth in claim 6, said separation-line means defining a substantially W-shaped configuration with the two apexes thereof respectively defining the free end means of said tab means and the opposed bases thereof defining said other end means of said tab means.

9. In a package construction as set forth in claim 6, said separation-line means defining a plurality of interconnected saw-like teeth through said film-like material with part of said saw-like teeth defining one of said tab means and the remaining part of said saw-like teeth defining the other of said tab means.

10. A film-like material for covering at least part of a desired structure, said film-like material having a pair of tab means each having a free end means and another end means interconnected to said film-like material adjacent said other end means of the other tab means, said tab means being so constructed and arranged that said free end means thereof can be pulled relative to said filmlike material to tear said film-like material along three lines for providing an opening in said film-like material.

11. A film-like material as set forth in claim and including tape-like means interconnected to said free end means of said tab means to be grasped and pulled relative to said film-like material for pulling said tab means to tear open said film-like material.

12. A film-like material as set forth in claim 11 wherein said tab means having said free end means thereof carved from said film-like material and being separated therefrom by separation-line means passing through said filmlike material, said tape-like means initially closing at least part of said separation-line means.

13. A film-like material as set forth in claim 12 wherein said tape-like means comprises a single member having separation-line means to divide said member into two parts respectively secured to said tab means when said member is moved relative to said film-like material to open said film-like material.

14. A film-like material as set forth in claim 12 wherein said tape-like means comprises two members respectively secured to said tab means and being spaced from each other.

15. A film-like material as set forth in claim 10 wherein said tab means respectively have said free end means thereof carved from said film-like material and being separated therefrom by separation-line means, said separation-line 5 means defining said three paths that said film-like material will tear along when said tab means are pulled relative to said film-like material.

16. A film-like material as set forth in claim 15 wherein said separation-line means define a middle tear path and a pair of outboard tear paths respectively disposed on opposite sides of said middle tear path and progressively diverging therefrom.

17. A film-like material as set forth in claim 15 wherein said separation-line means define a substantially W-shaped 15 configuration with the two apexes thereof respectively defining the free end means of said tab means and the opposed bases thereof defining said other end means of said tab means.

18. A film-like material as set forth in claim 15 wherein said separation-line means defines a plurality of interconnected saw-like teeth through said film-like material with part of said saw-like teeth defining one of said tab means and the remaining part of said saw-like teeth defining the other of said tab means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,175,752 3/1965 'Stabenow 229-51 3,206,020 9/ 1965 Billingsley et a1 20665 3,273,302 9/1966 Walter 229 s1 3,302,856 2/1967 Thompson et al 22951 3,331,503 7/1967 Brown 206-65 3,344,975 10/ 1967 Stoker 229-51 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

